AES Community Connection 10/5/26
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Our mission is to...
Empower an innovative, mindful community of learners in a challenging and nurturing environment that promotes inquiry and academic excellence!
and
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Dear Aspen Elementary Community,
This school year, Aspen School District is continuing an exciting design journey in partnership with Transcend Education, a national non-profit that supports school communities in creating extraordinary learning environments. Following a period of listening and learning alongside our students, staff, and families last spring, we have launched our district-wide Community Design Team (CDT).
Composed of dedicated educators, parents, staff members, community partners, and students, the Community Design Team serves as our district’s innovation engine. Together, the team is working to define a shared vision for the future of learning in Aspen. Our work focuses on three foundational pillars:
Coherence: Defining a clear, shared vision for student success through a PreK–12 Portrait of a Graduate.
Student Agency & Relevance: Empowering students to be curious, independent thinkers who see the direct connection between their daily learning and their future.
Outdoor & Experiential Education: Building upon Aspen’s rich history of outdoor learning and weaving authentic, real-world experiences into daily classroom practice.
We look forward to keeping you updated as our Community Design Team shares vision drafts and gathers feedback from our broader community throughout the year!
Every Day Counts: Attendance & Prompt Arrival
Consistent attendance and arriving on time set the foundation for a successful and joyful school day! When students arrive promptly each morning, they have time to settle in, connect with their peers and teachers, and participate fully in vital morning routines that frame the day's learning. Missing just 10 to 15 minutes in the morning can leave children feeling rushed and put them behind in key instruction.
To help your family plan, please keep our official school hours in mind:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:45 AM-3:15 PM
- Wednesday (Early Release): 7:45 AM-1:45 PM
Thank you for your partnership in prioritizing daily attendance and on-time arrival. If your family needs support or experiences hurdles with morning routines, please reach out. We are always here to help!
Upcoming IB PYP 3-Way Conferences & Sign-Ups
Looking ahead on our calendar, we are preparing for our 3-Way Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 12 & 13th. This is a very important time for you to discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth, and to see evidence of their learning. Please prioritize these in-person conferences. Due to their rigorous schedules, teachers are unable to schedule make-up conferences outside of these two days.
In the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), 3-Way Conferences bring together the student, parents, and teacher in an active, collaborative dialogue. Rather than a traditional adult-only meeting, students take the lead in reflecting on their growth, sharing portfolio work, and co-setting meaningful goals for the school year.
Student Agency & Voice: Because student agency and voice are central to this process, students attend and participate directly alongside their parents.
Sign-Up Details: Details and online sign-up instructions were sent out to all families. Instructions can be found on our website.
Thank you for your continued partnership, enthusiasm, and dedication to our school community. Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead!
Warmly,
Ashley Bodkins, Principal
Dana Alderman, Assistant Principal
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- Week of Oct 5 - ASD Homecoming Spirit Week - see below for AES Themes
- Week of Oct 5 - Fire Prevention Week
- Monday, Oct 12 & Tuesday, Oct 13 - IN-PERSON Parent, Student, Teacher (3-Way) Conferences (No regular school day for students)
- Wednesday, Oct 14-16 - Fall Break- NO SCHOOL for students
- Monday, Oct 12- Friday, October 30 - Food Drive with Lift Up
- Week of Oct 19th - Swim Week - bring swimsuit and towel for swimming lessons during Physical Education classes at the ARC.
- Week of Oct 19 - Transcend Leaps Surveys for 3rd and 4th graders. See below.
- Monday, October 19th - Pumpkin Carving Contest begins- send pics of your carved pumpkin to Virginia or Carrie. Photos due October 28th Midnight! More info to come!
- Thursday, Oct 29 - Picture Retakes & 4th Grade
- Friday, Oct 30 - AES Halloween Parade and School Wide Treats, 2:15-3:00pm - ASD Turf/Track and AES Field.
Swim Weeks... October 19-23 ~ November 9-13 ~ December 7-11 ~ January 11-15 ~ February 8-12 ~ March 8-12 ~ April 12-16
Aspen School District Calendar - 2026-27 (Updated and approved as of 5.13.26)
Hearing and Vision Screenings
The Health Office will be conducting hearing and vision screenings in October. Please see details below.
AES K–3rd grade students 10/1-10/9
AMS 5th and 7th grade students 10/19-10/23
AHS 9th grade students 10/19-10/23
If a parent/guardian would like their child to opt out of the screenings, you can reach out directly to their child’s classroom teacher or to the Health Office.
Order Your Class Photos!
Place your order using your school's online access code:
C288
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Customer Service: 1-970-241-2467
We Want to Keep Hearing from Our Students!
As we continue imagining the future of learning in Aspen, one of the most important voices in the conversation is our students’.
Last spring, Aspen students participated in the Leaps Student Voice Survey, a research-based survey designed to help us better understand how young people experience school and learning. This fall, students will take the survey again, giving us another opportunity to listen and to understand how their experiences may be changing over time. At AES the survey will be administered only to students in 3rd and 4th grades the week of October 19th.
The survey asks students to reflect on things like whether their learning feels meaningful and relevant, whether they feel connected to their school community, whether they are challenged and supported, and whether they have opportunities to make choices and take ownership of their learning.
The goal isn’t to evaluate individual students. It’s to help us better understand the learning experiences we are creating for students: what is working well today, where there may be opportunities to grow, and what we can learn by listening to students over time.
What we learn will provide another important source of student voice as our community continues exploring what we want learning in Aspen to look and feel like for every student.
PYP Coordinator's Corner - Jen Liddington
Learning in Action: A Peek Inside Our Classrooms!
There is amazing learning happening all over our building! Here is a quick snapshot of what our students have been up to:
- Kindergarten (Who We Are): Exploring Community by practicing what a strong school community looks, feels, and sounds like. They are also studying the five senses, which included a collaborative outdoor nature walk with Jared (PSPE).
- Grade 1 (Who We Are): Wrapping up a unit on inclusion and literacy by exploring how children around the world access books. To enhance this, Lisa May, Marnie, and ACES teachers taught storytelling and library skills, while Emily (Spanish) helped students write Spanish books for their classrooms.
- Grade 2 (How We Organize Ourselves): Studying Fall and seasonal change through reading, writing, and an ODE trip to Maroon Bells. They also collaborated with Hallie to create beautiful murals based on their literacy unit, now on display near their core.
- Grade 3 (Sharing the Planet): Diving into ocean exploration across science, math, and literacy. Students compared themselves to giant squids, researched ocean life, learned how oceanographers map with sound, and worked with Ms. Marnie and Ms. Hallie on arts integration, including an exclusive whale song film and a "Great Wave" mural.
- Grade 4 (How We Organize Ourselves): Concluding a unit on government by traveling to Denver to present research inside the State Capitol. They are also connecting year-long science and literacy through an upcoming elk heart dissection with Jared to study a "Great Heart."
See You Soon!
We cannot wait to share all of this learning with you during Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences on October 12th and 13th!
Struggling with Reading at Home?
Check out this article from Scholastic, "5 Tips to get your Child Reading at Home."
- Create a reading space at home
- Set a schedule - "Relaxing Family Time"
- Use a calendar or monthly reading tracker
- Talk about it - discuss the books your child is reading with them
- Let your child choose - level matters less than interest (easy books build fluency, read harder books to your child)
Science, History, and Geography Bees in Aspen! 11.14.26
Mark your calendars! On November 14th, Aspen School District will be hosting the IAC Regional Academic Bees (History, Geography, and Science) for 2nd-8th graders. Any interested students will get a chance to take qualifying exams during the school day. If they earn a qualifying score, they will be invited to attend the in-person buzzer competition. If you'd like to get an idea of what the content may be like, you can access some study guides here. Parents, we need some volunteers to help the day run smoothly. Please sign up to help for a half day, full day, or concession sales shift here!
Please click HERE for the flyer to register & learn more.
Digital Wellness at AES
Tin Can Phones are here! The “new-school” landline for friends. These simple, voice-only phones help create a connected community where kids can call one another to make their own
playdates and build valuable communication skills without screens or apps. Thank you,
AES PTO!
AES families can pick up their Tin Can during conferences on October 12 th and
13th !
Check out the Digital Wellness Coalition’s family and student guides!
Policies that support digital wellness at school:
Wait Until 8th Take the Pledge
The Digital Wellness Coalition (DWC) began in January 2026 to address digital
wellness concerns from a community-wide lens. Reach out to
dwc.roaringfork@gmail.com if you’re interested in getting involved or learning more
about the Digital Wellness Coalition.
Fundraising with Minted Stationary & Gifts!
Help raise money for AES and get a discount for yourself doing something you may be doing anyway! If you shop at Minted, use code FUNDRAISEASPENES when you check out to get 20% off your order AND have 10% of the purchase donated to AES with no effort on your part! You can shop for Holiday Stationary and gifts all season. Some exclusions apply.
Join the School Accountability Committee
We are looking for members to join our School Accountability Committee (SAC)! The SAC is a collaborative group of parents, staff, and community members who work together to support school improvement and academic success. We meet on the first Thursday of each month from 8:15–9:45 a.m. in the AES conference room, with an option to join virtually. We are also looking for a community liaison, so please let us know if you or someone you know might be interested in this role. Our next meeting will focus on discussing our goals for the 2026-27 school year—we hope to see you there!
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hnq-hecq-gyw
Earth Scouts: Unplugged! 10/14-10/16
Earth Scouts: Unplugged! Looking for engaging full-day plans when school is out? Join Earth Scouts during October break (14th, 15, and 16th) and other upcoming no-school days for outdoor adventure from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM! Kids will spend the day outdoors exploring nature, meeting farm animals, creating seasonal crafts, and discovering the lands around us. Please click HERE for the link.
Spaces fill quickly! Register today at farmco.org or contact liz@farmco.org with any questions.
October Arts & Culture Opportunities at the Wheeler
Celebrate culture, creativity, and community this October at the Wheeler Opera House. Join us for Mexican folklórico dance workshops inspired by Sugar Skull!, experience National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Kiliii Yuyan as part of the Changemaker Speaker Series, and enjoy family-friendly theater with Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure.
Students and educators can purchase $5 tickets to select performances with promo code OCTOBER5!
Learn More & Register:
- Sugar Skull Dance Workshops: https://wheeleroperahouse.com/explore-mexican-dance-traditions-with-sugar-skull/
- Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure (use promo code): https://wheeleroperahouse.com/event/sugar-skull-a-dia-de-muertos-musical-adventure/
- Kiliii Yuyan | Changemaker Speaker Series (use promo code): https://wheeleroperahouse.com/event/kiliii-yuyan-indigenous-wisdom-for-a-modern-world/
Parent Workshops
Executive Function and Zones of Regulation: learn about the developing brain and the Zones of Regulation to support your child's nervous system and executive functions.
Wednesday, October 23, 12:00 Virtual
Connecting with your child through play.
Friday, October 23, 12:00 Virtual
Click HERE for the flyer and information to RSVP.
Hazelden Betty Ford Children's Program
The Hazelden Betty Ford Children’s Program, in collaboration with Aspen Hope Center, is providing a free, 3-day substance-use prevention group for kids in 1st-8th grade. This evidence-based group is designed specifically for families with a history of substance use & has been serving children & families in Colorado for 20 years.
Please click HERE for the flyer with more information.
Join Cub Scouts!
Looking for adventure, new friends, and opportunities to learn and grow? Come check out Cub Scouts! Join us on September 23 to learn more about what our Cub Scout program has to offer. We’d love to meet you and your family and show you why Cub Scouts is an experience worth exploring. See the flyer for event details!
Click HERE for the flyer with more information.
Join AMFS AfterWorks Programs for the 26-27 School Year!
Registration is Open! Classes begin after Fall Break
At AES: Beginning Strings on Monday’s after-school, starting October 19
See the website for up-to-date program offerings at your school:
aspenmusicfestival.com/afterworks
Tuition and instrument scholarships are available!
Please click HERE for the flyer in English and Spanish.
After School Programming at Anderson Ranch
After School Art
Wednesdays starting October 7, 1:30-3:30PM
*Now available for month-to-month registration*
Location: Aspen Elementary School art room
This fall, Anderson Ranch brings its creative spirit back for Wednesday programming! Students dive into a new creative project each session. From sculptural builds to intricate paper art to hands-on bookmaking. Kids explore new materials and techniques all season long, building skills and confidence one project at a time. The program is a student favorite!
For the after school flyer click HERE for English and HERE for Spanish.
Fall Art Break: Bugs and Birds: Life Below and Above!
October 12 - 16, 9AM-3PM
$75 per day or $375 for the entire week
From the tiniest beetle tunneling underground to the highest hawk circling overhead, this week takes young artists on a journey through every layer of life on Earth. We start low, sculpting clay bugs and building tiny dioramas of the hidden world beneath the rug, in the dirt, and under fallen logs. Then we climb upward, painting layered skyscapes and crafting birds, bats, and bugs that take to the air. Along the way, we study real creatures- their shapes, colors, and camouflage – and use them as inspiration for our own imaginative critters. By the end of the week, we’ve built a whole ecosystem of artwork from the ground up to the clouds!
For the fall break flyer click HERE for English and HERE for Spanish.
REGISTRATION: If you are interested in registering for single days, please reach out to our Registration Department at reg@andersonranch.org or call 970-924-5089.
Safety and Security at AES
Keeping students safe is our number one priority at ASD. Therefore, during the school day you will find all AES doors locked. However, please know you are WELCOME to visit and volunteer at AES.
- Visiting - Please remember your ID (driver's license) if you are visiting the building for any reason. Virginia and Carrie will meet you in the office with a smile and issue you a sticker/ visitor badge that must be worn while in the building.
- Volunteering - We love including "fingerprinted" parent volunteers in the classroom or on field trips. If this interests you, be proactive and get ASD Fingerprinting for Volunteers Procedure completed ASAP. Fingerprinting is done in the District Offices. (the little blue building up by the High School)
Below are the protocols we follow in an emergency. Families will be notified in the event of an emergency. Please do not come to or call the school.
Who are we? We are IB!
Aspen Elementary School is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The MTSS Minute
At Aspen Elementary School, we use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure that every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to succeed. MTSS is a proactive, team-based framework.
Please click HERE to learn more.
A note from the Nurses...
- Please keep your students home if they are sick! They should be free of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea for at least 24 hours without the use of medication, and symptoms should be improved before returning to school.
- Friendly reminder: Per school policy, all medications including prescription, over-the-counter, creams, and cough drops require a physician’s order signed by a parent or guardian before administration. Medications must be delivered directly to the health office by a parent or guardian. Students may not transport or self-carry medications. When in doubt, please contact the health office for clarification.
Thank you for caring about the health of your students and our school community.
Healthy Choices for Celebrations
Alternatives include: stickers, pencils, extra recess, dance party, cards, star student etc.